Brewed to celebrate 27 years of the pioneering of the craft beer movement, this beer is an American Style IPA with a distinct Sierra Nevada twist; a generous amount of Cascade hops to produce a big fragrant pine and citrus hop aroma, which is balanced by the sweetness of two row pale and caramel malt, and finished with additional Cascade dry-hopping for good measure. Anniversary Ale is a medium-bodied, well-hopped ale that finishes with a slight malt sweetness. Released August 2007, 2008, and 2009; same beer.

Reviews by buffettfan:

This beer's flavor is almost identical to the nose. There is a great deal of grapefruit flavor that's balanced nicely with the bitterness from the Cascade hops (says the bottle) and that touch of honey. It's not too spicy, but the bitterness is welcome since the grapefruit flavor is very strong. However, I like this since I love grapefruit.

More User Reviews:

I love Sierra Nevada and have alot of respect for them and this beer stays true to there style,poured into a standard pint glass a clear medium to full copper with a big fluffy,clingy white head that left multiple globs of lace as it settled very slowly.That big Cascade presence is really shown in the nose very piney and resiny with some leaf and mild earthiness there as well a sweet caramel note shows thru but is light.Beautiful hop presence on the palate it isnt over the top on the hops just good piney citrusy hop intertwined with some caramel-biscuit malt the hops obviously win out but it just is so easy going down.I would say if this was always available this would be my fridge beer much like Bridgeport IPA in my mind very quaffable and true to the breweries hoppy roots.

This is a crystal clear copper beer with a great hade that fades slow and leaves gobs of sudsy lace. The aroma is very simple light cascade. The taste is likewise, very simple. Very resinous cascade. Light, grippy, mouthfeel. Biscuity malt. Solid IPA.

This is a beautiful auburn pour with a nice haze about it. The head is initially an off white hue that disipates quickly and leaves an adequate amount of lace behind. The beautiful floral aromas abound in this SN offering. The malt is understated along with the alcohol. The floral hops are the star or rather the theme of this brew. The flavors are dominantly hoppy with undertone of malts and sugars. All in all this is my favorite, less expensive, brew choice of the summer. Unfortuantely in my neck of teh woods it only just made it to the stores. If you want a great bodied beer with good hop character and top notch "drinkability", I would suggest this offering from SN to anyone.

A - Hazy, amber with a nice high off-white head with medium carbonation. The head hangs around for awhile and has some nice lacing.

S - Pretty lacking, have to put your nose way down in there to get some bread and caramel malt aroma. The hop aroma is not really even there.

T - The taste is a little better than the smell, but still lacking for Sierra Nevada. There is some hop bitterness right off the bat, but it just kind of ends there with a citrus fizzle. The biscuit malt flavours are nice but this is an IPA...I want some more hop presence.

M - Nice feel, not too dry there is some mouthfeel there but not syrupy.

D - Goes down smooth, not offensive, could drink a few...but if there are some other IPAs in the house there is a good chance I would switch it up.

Overall, this is a decent beer, but disappointing for a Sierra Nevada Anniversary Ale. Sure they use Cascade hops, but this reminds me much more of a English IPA than a bold American IPA.

I was quite excited when I saw an anniversary beer from Sierra Nevada, one of my all time favorite breweries. And I was not disappointed at all! This is one of the most perfectly balanced beers I've ever had. It starts with the familiar dark copper color and fluffy white head that can be found on their Pale Ale. The smell was full of citrus, pine and grapefruit with a hint of caramel maltiness in the background. The flavor was outstanding with a nice mellow sweetness in the front, then the good ol' cascades hit you and you get a great hoppy rush, and then aided by the perfect carbonation and not-too-thick mouthfeel, the beer ends nice and dry and you cant wait for the next sip. Highly recommended!

Pours into my glass a slightly hazy amber orange with a half inch of off white head on top. Plenty of active carbonation and some sticky lacing. Aromas begin with a nice mix of caramel and crystal malts upfront met by a big, zesty citric, somewhat piney hops. A bit floral as well, the hops come through really nicely here along with a slight spice.

First sip brings a crisp caramel infused malt upfront with a crystal sweetness and a bit of toasted grain flavor. The hops catch up quickly with a mixture of citrus and pine. Herbal hop oils flow down with a sturdy bitterness. Some spice comes through on the back end as it finishes with some creaminess. Good stuff.

Mouthfeel is creamy and medium bodied. Good steady carbonation makes this one easy drinking beer that's full of flavor as well. This is one of my favorite Sierra Nevada releases so far and I hope they brew this one again as I'm sad I can't find it on the shelves anymore. Well worth picking up a sixer of.

Another fine offering from the folks at Sierra. All these years laters, I still think that if you are drinking Sierra, the beer you are drinking is a great representation of that particular style. Sometimes extremely impressive, but never disappointing. All their beers are good baseline beers.

As for the anniversary ale. I have had this on draft and enjoyed it enough, but tasted not quite IPA-y enough for me, maybe even less so then their flagship pale. On cask at the Blind Tiger earlier this week, it was outstanding.

The appearance was slightly cloudy with a nice golden hue. The smell actually had some hints of nutmeg, but not quite edging over into a holiday brew. The taste was like a good pale ale with a slightly nutmeg finish. It maybe was a little bit thin in the mouthfeel, but this was a good beer overall. Nice job, Sierra.

Poured into a tulip this beer produced a hazed copper color with a small, white 1 1/2 finger head. It smelled of pine, citrus and a strong malt presence. The taste didn't match the smell for me. There was a small hop presence with an even stronger malt focus. It did, however, have great lacing. The beer was above average and a great value at 7.99 a six pack. A great sessionable beer.

Since becoming the insufferable beer snob that I am today, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is my default beer. As long as it's on tap or in a store somewhere, I won't grumble at my less beer centric friends and family.I gave this a try and I have to say, I am impressed.It is like their Pale Ale on steroids. Every aspect of the Pale Ale is amped up. The appearance is slightly more opaque and copper/orange. It is heavier, the mouth feel is more substantial and satisfying. The hop profile has more bite and the citrusy sweetness is far more pronounced. I get a little bit of the malt on the back end and its a nice, quick, grainy taste that adds character.I recommend this to anyone who wants a new look at an old standby.Sierra has to be commended in general for their place in craft beer history and they have done themselves proud with this one.

12 ouncer, no feshness info to be had..oh well....been a SNPA and family fan and consumer since god knows when (probably since around '80, label says 1980-2007) this one pours apricot/almond amber, with a slightly oily,olive sheen, if ya know what I mean, clear with a long lasting light tan head, that leaves plenty of fine bubble sheeting/lacing. Nose is solidly of hoppy resins. On the tongue, I get plenty of American style hoppy bitterness, riding along the spine of a full bodied brew. Malt noted, but certaintly understated here. Dry, hoppy finish finishes the ride. I like it. Nice brew, fine hoppy sessioner. Here's to many more beers and years of brewing from SN.

Taste: some caramel malt, big dose of pine and grapefruit, some spices

Mouthfeel: bitter throughout with a touch of malt balance, medium bodied, high carbonation

Drinkability: This beer is unapologetically hoppy. If I want a hop filled beer with a small dose of malt, this is it. This is very good for the style and if I were a hop lover, I would want several. For me, one will do, but I appreciate a good effort.

2008 vintage. Not sure how this is going to taste with this much age on it.

The beer pours a hazy brown-orange color with a white head. The aroma is toffee, flowers, oranges and other citrus notes. The flavor is bready malt, toffee, flower and oranges. Low bitterness. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Purchased at the Foodery in Northern Liberties. Pours amber with a one inch head. Has a faint hoppy smell. The taste is very balanced in malt vs. hops and is a little sweet. It is tasty but a borderline pale ale instead of a true IPA IMO since the hops are a bit light. Very drinkable and smooth in mouthfeel. A solid brew.

Taste: Slightly sweet citrus and toast, with a nice bitter pine counterbalance. Finishes quite bitter as expected, but some sweetness remains through the end of each sip (unusual for an IPA).

Feel: Moderate carbonation, relatively light body for an IPA but has a smooth creaminess to it. Finishes mostly dry.

Drinkability: Light and refreshing, but bitter, everyday IPA. Seems like this should be year round and the Torpedo should be seasonal. Of course, both are great and I prefer the Torpedo, so it all works out.

Does this beer actually change each year? Seems pretty similar, although the use of sustainable Cascade hops may be new this year. Just not sure why this gets an update each year and Celebration does not.

Clear copper pour with a short white head. Looks like a lighter version of their pale ale. Big Cascade hop nose, with pine and grass. Crisp hop bite, definietly leans toward the English IPA style. Astringent pine hops without the resin taste. More grapefruit than in the nose and a nice malt backbone. Clean finish. Much better the their other IPA.

Clear,medium,amber/copper color with a 1' thick very creamy off white head,decent retention. Little carbination with a few very tiny bubbles staggering to the surface.Had a hard time twisting off the cap,force of habit on this one,used to twist-off even said use opener on cap. Poured into my Mad Elf glass once the cap was removed.

Moderate/delicate aromas, very pleasing and fresh/clean. Floral with citrusy notes,some pine and a hint of grapefruit. A nice light sweet carmell maltiness in the background.

Citrusy with bits of pine,grassy with a slight citrus rind edge,also grassy with some slight leafyness.Very nice balance with a pleasing sweet carmell maltiness.Finishes with a clean,juicy light citrus rind feel. Very refreshing,smooth,pleasing tartness is refreshing.Smooth,enjoyable and highly drinkable.

Hope they make this all the time,would love to have on my draft system if avalible. Could drink all night. On the light side for an IPA more like a great pale ale. Enjoyed it neverless,would recomend giving this beer a try while you can.